Automatic filter apparatus



April 13; 1948. F. J. REINHART 2,439,633

AUTOMATIC FILTER APPARAITUS Filed Aug. 14, 1945 I l l I i .7

, -9 & /4

2 L A /f /0 Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNIT-ED PATENT OFFICE nn rovmrremmrnnnrrnnnrus Frederick J. ,Beinhart, Lmllow, Ky.

' Application August .14, 19e5,seriamo.-src,v 29

"This invention relates to a filter appai atus, and more "particularlyto i an automatic filter device SaClaimm (01. 210-209) forfilteringdirt, mud, orsediment frem'cisterhs,

reservoirs or tanks of any *kind containing a liquid; innobject of 'thisinvention is toprovide:an improved filter device comprising a"seri-es'of pipes,

which may babuilt into a cistern, reservoir or tank, and avalve controltor initiating =-automatic filtering of or sediment out or the cistern,

reservoir or tank. 3 3

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved filterarrangement including an overflow pipe, a filter pipe, and .a sedimentbasin all contained within a clstem,reservoir or tank, I

and valve means outside iof-the cistern, reservoir or tank for causingliquid in the cisterngreservoir or tank to be forced out through thefilter pipe under pressure of the liquid itself, said forced-out liquidentraining sedimenttcontained in thezsediment 'basin.

Still another object ,of this i-m-nentionlis toiprovide a filterapparatus in atank reservoir or cistern wherein a head of liquidnormally present in the tank, reservoir or'cistern is released'fby avalve to .carry sediment out et the tank, reservoir or cistern :topurify the liquid .fmainingz,

It is a further object of this invention to provide 'a filteringapparatus in a tank, reservoir or cistern containing a liquid wherebydirt and scum may be withdrawn from the top of the liquid and alsowhereby sediment may be withdrawn from the bottom of the tank,reservoiror cistern,

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingspecification and claims and from the accompanying drawings illustratingthe invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view through a cistern or tankshowing the filter apparatus;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section showing the outlet valve; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section showing the sediment basin in thebottom of the cistern or tank and showing part of the filter pipe.

Referring to the figures, the cistern or tank I is shown as embedded inthe ground and has its bottom 2 sloping downwardly to merge into atrough-like sediment basin 3 in the bottom. In the specific embodimentillustrated the basin 3 is ofi'set from the center of the tank orcistern to allow for a pump to be installed in the center, if desired.The top of the tank or cistern may be arched, as at 4, and has aremovable cap 5, afiording access to the interior. The cisternillustrated has an intake pipe 6, made preferably io'i tlla which may beconnected-to arrooftorrother :source of rainwater byrpipe :1, shown Iindotted lines.

Within the cistern an overflow pipe 8lisssituatediwhich has 811:inletffunnel 19 connectedlthereto 20f ithe'crsternandtis connected. byelbow il l 1 and SI 2 to an aontlet pipe [3. E lie end of outlet pipe-Mrs'cutniagonallyiand is-closediby a gravity bias'e'd trap lid "I 4hinged to .a ring 3 ll 5* fastened around pipe 4'3. LTrap :lid 14 willautomatically :open when -WQater starts flowing out through outlet pipII 3' butiis znormally kept-closed" by gravity rtotlreep inseetsoutofthe cistem.

Filter plpe 4 6 is vertically disposed in the cis- Filter pipe IFB isprovided with a gate valve 20,

which is operated -by'inandle 24 extendingiaboveitnecgroundathroughnitilepme22, Atthe bottom for the cisternroverzsedimentbasinc is located 3 an inverted funnel 23 which isfastened to filter pipe 16 by a bushing 24 soldered to the funnel. Thetunnel 23 is maintained in spaced relation from the bottom of thecistern by four legs 2-5 spaced around the funnel and fastened thereto.

In operation of the cistern and filter illustrated, the water level willnormally be limited by the top part of funnel 9. However, after a heavyrain, water will momentarily rise above funnel 9, but this excess waterwill flow out of the cistern through overflow pipe 8, outlet pipe l3 andlid [4. At the same time the excess: water will carry with it dirt andscum that might accumulate on top of the water. During this overflow andfor several days thereafter, the gate valve 20 is kept closed to giveheavier dirt and sediment sufficient time to settle down into thesediment basin 3. After this occurs, the valve 20 is opened and waterstarts flowing out from the bottom of the cistern upwardly throughfilter pipe l6, filter pipe I8, and out through outlet pipe nel 23 andup into pipe l6 and will entrain accumulated sediment located in thesediment basin 3 and carry same out of the cistern. The legs 25 areabout one inch in length and this forms a narrow opening which speeds upthe flow of water at this point to facilitate the entrainment ofsediment by the water. i

The removable cap l1 on pipe I6 is for the purpose of enabling pipe Itto be cleaned out if it clogs. I

The filter apparatus described may also be used in wine or beer casksfor removing sediment from the bottom of the cask. It also maybe used onmud pans inlocomotives to remove the mud. 9' The apparatus described mayalso be usedto remove mud and filth from cisterns or catch ba--- sinsbehind flood walls erected near cities or towns subject to floodconditions.

While a certain specific embodiment of this invention has been shown, itwill be understood that various modifications may be made within thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a tank for liquid and a purifying apparatus, saidtank having a sediment basinin its bottom and said purifying apparatuscomprising an overflow pipe, a sludge pipe, and a valve in said sludgepipe, said overflow pipe limiting the height of the liquid in said tankand being positioned above said sludge pipe to form a head of liquidabove said sludge pipe, said sludge pipe extending down into and spacedfrom the bottom of said sediment basin, whereby when said valve isopened, liquid will be forced out of said tank through said sludge pipewhile entrain ing sediment from said sediment basin.

l 2. The combination of a tank for liquid and a purifying apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein an inverted funnel is provided spaced fromthe bottom of said sediment basin to form a narrowpassage for the liquidwhereby said liquid is speeded up in passing through the sediment basin.

3. The combination of a tank for liquid and a purifyin apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sediment basin comprises a U-shapedtrough forming part of the bottom of said tank Number and wherein aninverted funnel is provided spaced from the bottom of said sedimentbasin to form a narrow passage for the liquid whereby said liquid isspeeded up upon entering said sediment basin to entrain a maximum ofsediment.

4. The combination of a tank for liquid and a purifying apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sediment basin is formed in the bottomof said tank and wherein an inverted funnel is provided spaced from thebottom of said sediment basin to form a narrow passage for the liquidand wherein a gravity valve is provided at the outlet of said sludgepipe, whereby liquid will be forced around said inverted funnel, throughsaid sediment basin, through said sludge pipe and through said gravityvalve.

5. In a purifying device for a tank containing liquid, an overflow pipein the tank leading to an outlet outside of the tank, a sludge pipe inthe tank leading to an outlet, said overflow pipe being positioned abovesaid sludge pipe to form a pressure head of liquid above said sludgepipe, said sludge pipe extending downwardly and spaced from the bottomof said tank, a valve in said sludge pipe whereby when said valve isclosed an overflow of liquid in said tank will flow out from the top ofthe tank through said overflow pipe carrying surface scum therewith andwhen said valve is opened, the liquid pressure head will cause liquid toflow out from the bottom of the tank through said sludge pipe carryingtherewith sediment from the bottom of the tank.

, FREDERICK J. REINHART.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Thiem Sept, 13, 1910 Dittrick June 20,1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland i 1916 Germany Mar. 29,1900

